Global Events
At the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference (the "Copenhagen Summit") in December, the United States, China, South Africa, India and Brazil brokered a non-binding Copenhagen Accord that recognizes "the scientific view that the increase in global temperature should be below 2 degrees Celsius," calls for the establishment of greenhouse gas emission targets by 2020, and asks developed countries to commit new resources "approaching $30 billion for the period 2010 - 2012" to developing countries to implement the The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Unlike the Kyoto Protocol, the Copenhagen Accord has no legally-binding consequences and no clear mechanism establishing sources of revenue. No countries have yet signed on to the Accord. The Conference merely "takes note" of the Accord, which means delegates acknowledged its existence without expressing support for it. By January 31, 2010, developed countries that agree to the Accord will submit emissions targets for 2020 and developing countries will submit "nationally appropriate mitigation actions."
It is unclear which, if any, countries will sign on to the Accord, and what impact it will have on greenhouse gas emissions. The Copenhagen Summit has been described as everything from a "near disaster" to a "home run." One of the critical questions to be decided in 2010 is whether international cooperation to address climate change can be organized successfully under the auspices of the United Nations, or whether more meaningful negotiations will happen among a smaller group of countries in a different context, such as at the Group of Twenty summits in Toronto and Seoul.
Local Events
It is unclear which, if any, countries will sign on to the Accord, and what impact it will have on greenhouse gas emissions. The Copenhagen Summit has been described as everything from a "near disaster" to a "home run." One of the critical questions to be decided in 2010 is whether international cooperation to address climate change can be organized successfully under the auspices of the United Nations, or whether more meaningful negotiations will happen among a smaller group of countries in a different context, such as at the Group of Twenty summits in Toronto and Seoul.
Local Events
Thursday, January 7 - Sustainability Across Maine, 7-9 pm, Frontier Cafe, Brunswick. Green Living Project is proud to premier its first multi-media event on unique sustainability projects in Maine. Learn about Maine Huts & Trail's cool new hut-to-hut system, Chewonki's unique sustainability programs, Primo's backyard organic farm, Local Sprout's popular local food movement, Maine Compost School, Inn by the Sea's leading green initiatives, and Island Institute's pioneering wind-energy projects along the islands of Midcoast Maine. Explore cutting-edge sustainability issues and find out how you can get involved. Free and open to the public.
Saturday, January 9 - The Road to Successful Beekeeping, 9:30 am - Noon, Wolfe's Neck Farm, Freeport. This class will walk participants step by step through the process of starting your own hives. Wolfe's Neck Farm is an historic 626 acre farm on the Maine coast dedicated to sustainable agriculture, environmental education, and community well-being through the enjoyment of our natural landscape. For more information about programs at the farm, call 865-4469.
Tuesday and Wednesday, January 12 and 13 - First Annual Maine Association of Building Efficiency Professional’s (MABEP) Training Conference, Holiday Inn By-the-Bay, Portland. The Maine Association of Building Efficiency Professionals has been established to represent and advance the interests of energy auditors, energy retrofit contractors, energy efficient green builders, insulation contractors, weatherization professionals, installers of wind turbine, geo thermal, heat pump, and solar technologies, installers of energy efficiency materials and equipment, installers of non-fossil fuel generating devices, manufacturers and suppliers, home inspectors, architects, engineers, interior designers and all other persons and businesses who seek to improve the energy efficiency of residential and commecial buildings and to reduce our dependence upon fossil fuels. Registration for the training conference closed on January 5, but you can learn more about MABEP at http://www.efficiencypros.org/
Thursday, January 14 - Make Your Own Interior Storm Windows, 7 pm, F.W. Horch, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick. Due to popular demand, we're offering this seminar again! Come learn how to make reusable insulating storm windows to keep heat in and stop drafts. Properly measured, made and installed, interior storm windows will significantly reduce your heating bills year after year. These window inserts can be installed and removed without the use of tools or fasteners. Rendon Sabina of Downeast Interior Storms will demonstrate his affordable design, using wood, polyolefin film, and open cellulose foam. For more information, please call (207) 729-4050. Free and open to the public.
Tuesday, January 19 - Growing Greens in Maine All Winter Long, 1:45 pm, St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 95 Court Street, Belfast. Imagine -- growing your own fresh greens all winter without a heated greenhouse. For more than six years, NRCM communications director Judy Berk has done so. She will share her secrets, successes, and failures, in a talk at the Belfast Garden Club’s January 19 meeting. The Belfast Garden Club meetings are open to the public. Plan to arrive at 1:00 pm to attend the business meeting and a mini-horticultural talk, or arrive at 1:45 pm for Judy’s 2:00 pm talk.
Wednesday, January 20 - Protecting the Nature of Maine, 6:30 pm, Bates College, Keck Classroom, Pettingill Hall, 4 Andrews Road, Lewistion. Join the Natural Resources Council of Maine for a showing of their documentary film, "Protecting the Nature of Maine," followed by discussion with NRCM executive director Brownie Carson, registered Maine Guide and NRCM board president Bill Houston, and other environmental activists. Free and open to the public. RSVP through email or phone to Gretta Wark 207-430-0108.
Thursday, January 21 - Going Green to Stay in the Black, 6-8 pm, USM Glickman Family Library, Portland. Glen Brand, National Cool Cities Director, Sierra Club as well as Lita Semrau and Andy Hyland of the United States Green Building Council Maine Chapter will speak about green building, what it is, why it is important and how we can make it happen locally in our Maine communities. Anyone interested in green building and policies in their communities -- contractors and construction employees, town officials, and homeowners -- should attend. Refreshments will be served. For more information please contact Sandy Amborn at 761-5616 or email sandyamborn@yahoo.com
Thursday, January 14 - Make Your Own Interior Storm Windows, 7 pm, F.W. Horch, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick. Due to popular demand, we're offering this seminar again! Come learn how to make reusable insulating storm windows to keep heat in and stop drafts. Properly measured, made and installed, interior storm windows will significantly reduce your heating bills year after year. These window inserts can be installed and removed without the use of tools or fasteners. Rendon Sabina of Downeast Interior Storms will demonstrate his affordable design, using wood, polyolefin film, and open cellulose foam. For more information, please call (207) 729-4050. Free and open to the public.
Tuesday, January 19 - Growing Greens in Maine All Winter Long, 1:45 pm, St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 95 Court Street, Belfast. Imagine -- growing your own fresh greens all winter without a heated greenhouse. For more than six years, NRCM communications director Judy Berk has done so. She will share her secrets, successes, and failures, in a talk at the Belfast Garden Club’s January 19 meeting. The Belfast Garden Club meetings are open to the public. Plan to arrive at 1:00 pm to attend the business meeting and a mini-horticultural talk, or arrive at 1:45 pm for Judy’s 2:00 pm talk.
Wednesday, January 20 - Protecting the Nature of Maine, 6:30 pm, Bates College, Keck Classroom, Pettingill Hall, 4 Andrews Road, Lewistion. Join the Natural Resources Council of Maine for a showing of their documentary film, "Protecting the Nature of Maine," followed by discussion with NRCM executive director Brownie Carson, registered Maine Guide and NRCM board president Bill Houston, and other environmental activists. Free and open to the public. RSVP through email or phone to Gretta Wark
Thursday, January 21 - Going Green to Stay in the Black, 6-8 pm, USM Glickman Family Library, Portland. Glen Brand, National Cool Cities Director, Sierra Club as well as Lita Semrau and Andy Hyland of the United States Green Building Council Maine Chapter will speak about green building, what it is, why it is important and how we can make it happen locally in our Maine communities. Anyone interested in green building and policies in their communities -- contractors and construction employees, town officials, and homeowners -- should attend. Refreshments will be served. For more information please contact Sandy Amborn at 761-5616 or email sandyamborn@yahoo.com
Thursday, January 28 - Sustainability: Then and Now, 6:30 pm, Freeport Community Center, Freeport. Local historian Fred Koerber will talk about changes in the use of land and water throughout history. Using examples from Maquoit Bay, he will connect historic land use to our contemporary search for sustainability. Community discussions to follow the talk.
Friday, January 29 - Keeping Foundations Warm and Dry, 9 am - Noon, USM Mitchell Center, 37 College Ave, Gorham. In partnership with the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council, the Maine Association of Building Efficiency Professionals presents a free training for site work and foundation construction. Learn about the physical processes at work below grade and understand how these processes are addressed by the new Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code. Registration by January 22 is necessary. For more information, contact Becky Morgan, 622-4466 or becky@mabep.org.
Saturday, January 30 - Top Bar Beekeeping Demonstration, 10 am - 2 pm, F.W. Horch Sustainable Goods & Supplies, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick. Christy Hemenway of Gold Start Honeybees will be at our store to demonstrate how to keep bees in a top bar bee hive. The Gold Star Top Bar Beehive promotes healthy honey bees by allowing bees to make their own natural beeswax. This helps bees by strengthening their immune systems, helping them to fight off parasites and other bee problems without the use of toxic chemicals in the beehive. Christy will be demonstrating using an empty hive -- you'll have to imagine the bees and the honey!
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Local permaculture groups in Brunswick and Portland have several events planned. You can learn more about these groups and their events using the Meetup web service. Check them out at
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